Private Project

Slow Fruit

Two best friends, Phikeh and Londi, influenced by values they were born into, make promises to each other. These promises become a foundational set of values which carry their friendship. The biggest of these is to keep away from boys in order to remain virgins until they get married. They move to an independent space, the University of Zululand. Here, Phikeh’s curiosity of the other side of life gets the better of her, she wants to explore new things, which are a total opposite of what carries their friendship. This causes friction between the pair and the question becomes: will their friendship survive the fact that they are growing into different human beings?
Slow Fruit is a 24-minute coming of age drama that looks to unpack themes of awakening, friendships, virginity and growth.

  • Kwazikwenkosi Ntombela-Langa
    Writer
    Umphefumulo, UQalazile
  • Kwazikwenkosi Ntombela-Langa
    Director
    Umphefumulo, UQalazile
  • Bonie Sithebe
    Producer
    Valley of a Thousand Hills
  • Zamuntu Khoza
    Key Cast
    "Phikelela Phikeh Zulu"
    Sibongile and The Dlaminis
  • Ayanda Ndlovu
    Key Cast
    "Londi"
  • Sduduzo Maphumulo
    Key Cast
    "Siyamthanda Msomi"
    Sibongile and The Dlaminis
  • Lasandra Majola
    Key Cast
    "Lulu"
    Sibongile and The Dlaminis
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes 57 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 28, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    24,948 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    South Africa
  • Country of Filming:
    South Africa
  • Language:
    English, Zulu
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, 4k
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Kwazikwenkosi Ntombela-Langa

Kwazikwenkosi Ntombela-Langa, 30, was born and raised at KwaNomponjwana, a rural area in Melmoth. She ventured into filmmaking in 2017, and since then she has never looked back. She is now an Executive Director at Divine Voice Media, her rural based filmmaking company founded in 2018. She is a Screenwriter, Director and Budding Producer who has made these projects:

- Slow Fruit: Writer and Director, (2024)
- Traumas of Teachers: Writer and Director, Divine Voice Media, (present)
- UQALAZILE: Writer, Director, Producer and Editor, Student Documentary Film (2023)
- Umphefumulo: Writer and Director, Zinc Pictures/NFVF (2018)

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Director Statement

Making Slow Fruit was not easy because it was my very first independent project - BUT - what a learning experience for me! This project taught me a lot! I’d like to thank everyone who made time to listen to me even when I did not really make sense. A special thanks to my Producer: Bonie Sithebe, for putting together such a great team for me! God and my Ancestors have been at work - and I cannot thank them enough! To my brand new Ancestor, my mother, Qalazile - thank you for your prayers Queen!